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On 17.th of May 2014, we started activity to get the signals from the GPS geostationary references, that could be used for a continent wide time synchronization of SIDI receivers. Calculations show, that simple antena (eg 1m dish or 50cm long helix) should have enough gain to have a good S/N ratio. We started with the famous "flak mount" upgrade, i had 2 heidenhain 15 bit absolute encoders that i got in Friedrichshafen for few German Marks many years ago lying somewhere.

I managed to find specs and wrote the decoding and display software for ATMEGA 8. With those precize and alligned position encoders, finding sky sources was immediately like a charm. For the elevation we simply calculated degrees/tooth on the elevation wheel, precision upto 0,25 deg is easily acheived. Adjustments of the base stand to get the mount to perfect horizontal position helped a lot to be in within 1 degree accuracy.

Setup for the measurement cosisted of 3 different antennas

3m dish, vertical polarization

30 db S/N

1m dish, circular feed

10 db S/N

37 cm long helix

12 db s/N

Preamp is s53mv about 0.6dB NF, 50m of 75 ohm cable and another preamp to cover the cable losses, total gain abt 30dB. For measurement we used my home made S53MV spectrum analyzer. Signal at 3m dish was as expected 30db above noise.